Image forming apparatus, control method of image forming apparatus and storage medium

ABSTRACT

An image forming apparatus capable of communicating with a server apparatus, includes a receiving unit configured to receive a packet from the server apparatus, a determining unit configured to determine whether a packet received by the receiving unit is a specific packet, a power supply control unit which, when the determining unit determines that a packet received by the receiving unit is the specific packet, brings the image forming apparatus into a first power condition which enables the image forming apparatus to start quickly using data stored in a volatile memory, and a start control unit configured to start the image forming apparatus quickly using data stored in the volatile memory.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a controlmethod of the image forming apparatus and a storage medium therefor.

2. Description of the Related Art

With respect to a method for controlling power-on of an image formingapparatus through remote control using a server apparatus, a technologyfor starting the image forming apparatus up to an idle condition hasbeen already established. In the idle condition, all functions of theimage forming apparatus can be used. As disclosed in Japanese PatentApplication Laid-Open No. 2000-89864, a technology for controllingwhether the system should be turned into the idle condition or should bepowered off according to system setup information of the apparatus isavailable.

According to a remote control power-on system, ordinarily, the serverapparatus automatically turns on electric power of the image formingapparatus when a set time comes. However, when the image formingapparatus is automatically powered on according to this system, there isa low possibility that a user who wants to use it immediately is presentnear the image forming apparatus and thus, it may take time after theimage forming apparatus is automatically powered on until when the imageforming apparatus is actually used by a user. Therefore, the imageforming apparatus stands by in the idle condition even when it is notused immediately, thereby consuming electric power in waste in thisperiod.

On the other hand, even if a user does not intend to use the imageforming apparatus immediately, he or she may expect the image formingapparatus to get into an operable condition quickly when he or shewishes to use it. However, when the server apparatus turns on electricpower of the image forming apparatus, the user cannot choose whether theimage forming apparatus should be started in the idle condition or inthe quick start condition, which is a problem to be solved by thepresent invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the present invention, an image formingapparatus capable of communicating with a server apparatus, includes areceiving unit configured to receive a packet from the server apparatus,a determining unit configured to determine whether a packet received bythe receiving unit is a specific packet, a power supply control unitwhich, when the determining unit determines that a packet received bythe receiving unit is the specific packet, brings the image formingapparatus into a first power condition which enables the image formingapparatus to start quickly using data stored in a volatile memory, and astart control unit configured to start the image forming apparatusquickly using data stored in the volatile memory.

According to the above-described configuration, depending on a packetacquired from the server apparatus, the start processing of the imageforming apparatus can be executed in the idle condition or in the quickstart condition, which improves an effect of energy saving.

Further features and aspects of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description of exemplaryembodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments, features,and aspects of the invention and, together with the description, serveto explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image formingapparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an entire configuration of acontrol unit of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a controllercontrol unit illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an operation unit ofthe image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a transition condition of the powersupply of the image forming apparatus of the exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart describing a control method of the image formingapparatus.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart describing a control method of the image formingapparatus.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart describing a control method of the image formingapparatus according to a modification of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Various exemplary embodiments, features, and aspects of the inventionwill be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

The components described in the following exemplary embodiments are justexemplifications and are not intended to restrict the scope of thepresent invention to only those components.

<Description of System Configuration>

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image formingapparatus according to a first exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. The image forming apparatus of the present exemplaryembodiment includes an image forming apparatus main body constituted ofan image reader 200 and a printer unit 300, a folding apparatus 500, anda finisher 600. A document conveyance apparatus 100 is mounted on thetop of the image reader 200. An inserter 700 is provided on the top ofthe finisher 600. The image forming apparatus is constructed to becapable of communicating with a server apparatus 453 through acommunication control unit 450 described below and acquires a packet forcontrolling start processing described below.

Referring to FIG. 1, the document conveyance apparatus 100 feedsdocument papers set on a document tray 105 one by one from a head pageand carries the papers onto a document positioning glass plate via acurved path. Two reading modes are available for reading a one-sidedoriginal document. In an original fixed-reading mode (first readingmode), a rear end of the original document is fed to and stopped at areading position R1 on the document positioning glass plate 205, and ascanner unit 206 is moved from the left to the right to read thedocument. According to another reading mode (second reading mode), anoriginal document is carried up to the reading position R1 at a specificreading speed, and the original document is read with the scanner unit206 fixed at the reading position R1. In any mode, after the originaldocument is read, the original document is discharged onto a dischargetray 106.

According to a two-sided original reading method, the front surface ofthe original document is read by the scanner unit 206 and the rearsurface is read by an optical unit 110 arranged inside the documentconveyance apparatus 100. A detailed description of this matter will bemade below. An image sensor and a light source (not shown) are arrangedinside the optical unit 110.

An image of an original document read by the image sensor 208 via thelens 207 is sent to an exposure control unit 305 via a printer controlunit 301. The exposure control unit 305 outputs laser beam correspondingto an image signal. A photosensitive drum 306 is irradiated with thelaser beam to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitivedrum 306. The electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 306is developed by a developing device 307 and developer existing on thephotosensitive drum 306 is transferred onto a sheet carried from any oneof cassettes 308, 309, a manual feed unit 310, and a two-sidedconveyance path 311, at a transfer unit 312.

After developer is transferred onto the sheet, the sheet is guided to afixing unit 313, in which fixing processing of the developer isexecuted. After passing the fixing unit 313, the sheet is guided to apath 314 from a path 315 by a flapper (not shown). After the rear end ofthe sheet passes the path 315, the sheet is switched back and guided todischarge rollers 317. Consequently, with a surface to which thedeveloper adheres, facing downward (face down status), the sheet can bedischarged from the printer unit 300 by the discharge rollers 317. Thisis called inversed discharge. Because the sheet is discharged with itsface down, when printing images read from a plurality of originaldocuments by the document conveyance apparatus 100, the images can beformed in a right order from the head page.

When forming an image on a hard sheet like an OHP sheet supplied throughthe manual feed unit 310, the sheet is not guided to the path 315 but isdischarged through the discharge rollers 317 with a surface to which thedeveloper adheres, facing upward (face up status).

When forming an image on both surfaces of a sheet, the sheet is guidedfrom the fixing unit 313 to the path 315 and the path 314. Just afterthe sheet passes the path 315, the sheet is switched back and guided toa two-sided conveyance path 311 by a flapper (not shown). Anelectrostatic latent image is transferred to the sheet guided onto thetwo-sided conveyance path 311 by the transfer unit 312 and the fixingprocessing is executed by the fixing unit 313.

Setup of a path length, arrangement of rollers and division of a drivesystem enable conveyance of sheets even if five sheets of half sizepapers such as A4 size, B5 size exist on a path of a single circulation,from the transfer unit 312 via the two-sided conveyance path 311, backto the transfer unit 312 again. Because the sheets are discharged withtheir odd-pages facing downward, the sheet pages can be arranged in aproper order at the time of two-sided copy.

The sheets discharged from the discharge rollers 317 are fed into thefolding apparatus 500. The folding apparatus 500 executes a processingof folding the sheet into Z-shape. When folding processing is specifiedfor a sheet of A3 size or B4 size, after the folding processing isexecuted, the sheet is fed into the finisher 600. Sheets of other sizesare fed into the finisher 600 without any treatment. The finisher 600executes bookbinding processing, stapling processing and perforatingprocessing. An inserter 700 is mounted on the top of the finisher 600 tosupply a cover and an interleaf. A controller control unit 400communicates with the image reader 200, the printer 300, the foldingapparatus 500, and the finisher 600 to control the entire image formingapparatus. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the entireconfiguration of the control unit of the image forming apparatusillustrated in FIG. 1. This apparatus is constructed around thecontroller control unit 400 configured to control the entire imageforming apparatus.

Referring to FIG. 2, the controller control unit 400 has a documentconveyance apparatus control unit 101 configured to control the documentconveyance apparatus 100 according to a setting of the operation unit800 or an instruction from the server apparatus 453. The controllercontrol unit 400 communicates with an image reader control unit 201configured to control the image reader 200 to obtain image data of aninput original document. Further, the controller control unit 201communicates with a printer control unit 301 configured to control theprinter 300 and prints the image data on a sheet. Additionally, thecontroller control unit 201 communicates with a folding apparatuscontrol unit 501 configured to control the folding apparatus 500 and afinisher control unit 601 configured to control the finisher 600 toachieve desired outputs such as stapling printed sheets and punch-out ofholes.

A communication interface 451 is an interface 4 configured to connectthe server apparatus 453 with the controller control unit, for example,through an external bus 452 such as a network and USB to rasterize printdata supplied from the server apparatus 453 and output the processeddata. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of thecontroller control unit illustrated in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 3, the controller control unit 400 is controlled by aCPU 401 within a main control unit 410 and is controlled by an operatingsystem (hereinafter referred to OS). A bus bridge 408 is connected to aROM 403 which stores an initial start program of the CPU 401 and a mainstorage memory (main memory) 405 which stores control data of the CPU401 temporarily and is used as a work area for calculation accompanyinga control.

A storage unit 402 stores a main program including the operating systemof the CPU 401. The storage unit 402 is also used as a temporary storagearea for image data when the image forming apparatus of the presentexemplary embodiment is activated. Further, the communication controlunit 450 configured to control a network and a USB interface and anoperation portion control unit 406 configured to control the operationunit 800 are connected to the CPU 401.

The CPU 401 communicates with a device control unit 407 through the busbridge 408. The device control unit 407 is connected to the documentconveyance apparatus control unit 101, the image reader control unit201, the printer control unit 301, the folding apparatus control unit501, and the finisher control unit 601 to control those components.

A power supply control unit 418 controls power of the entire imageforming apparatus. More specifically, the power supply control unit 418controls power for the document conveyance apparatus control unit 101,the image reader control unit 201, the printer control unit 301, thefolding apparatus control unit 501 and the finisher control unit 601 andperforms power control in an energy saving mode within the controllercontrol unit 400.

A first power supply ON/OFF switching device 412 switches ON/OFF a firstpower supply 411 for supplying power to the communication control unit450. A second power supply ON/OFF switching device 415 switches ON/OFF asecond power supply 413 for supplying power to the CPU 401, the storageunit 402, and the ROM 403 within the controller control unit 400.

A third power supply ON/OFF switching device 417 switches ON/OFF a thirdpower supply 416 for supplying power to the main storage memory 405within the controller control unit 400. The communication control unit450 is connected to the first power supply ON/OFF switching device 412to assess a packet received through the communication interface 451 andcontrol a flag register 414.

A main switch 420 notifies the power supply control unit 418 that thesystem has been operated directly by a user. The main switch 420instructs the power supply control unit 418 to turn on power. Then, uponreceiving a power ON instruction from the main switch 420 in quick startcondition, the CPU 401 executes control to bring the image formingapparatus from the quick start condition to an idle condition accordingto a procedure illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. In the meantime, the powersupply control unit 418 permits supply of power from the first to thirdpower supplies in the idle condition described in detail below to bringthe image forming apparatus into a state allowing formation of images.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the operation unit800 of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 2. Referring toFIG. 4, in a liquid crystal device (LCD) display unit 900, a touch panelsheet is attached to its LCD panel. The touch panel sheet displays anoperation screen for the system, and when a displayed key is pressed bya user, the operation unit 800 notifies the controller control unit 400of its position information. A ten key keypad 801 is used for enteringnumbers like a number of copies. A start key 802 is used for startingcopy operation or document reading operation after a user sets a desiredcondition. A stop key 803 is used for stopping an operation beingcurrently carried out. An energy saving key 804 is used for transitionto energy saving mode or return to the energy saving mode.

If a user presses a guide key 805 when the user is not sure of thefunction of any key, a description of that key is shown. A copy mode key806 is used to execute a copy. A fax key 807 is used to make a settingabout the fax. A file key 808 is used to output file data. A printer key809 is used to make a setting about print output from an externalapparatus such as a computer.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a condition transition of the powersupply of the image forming apparatus according to the exemplaryembodiment.

When the commercial power (AC plug) is OFF, in P103, the entireapparatus is turned OFF. Because no power is supplied to the apparatusat this time, it cannot accept any electrical operation.

If the commercial power is turned ON when the entire system is OFF(P103), the system is brought to the shut-down condition (P104). At thistime, the power supply control unit 418 is powered on. Next, the powersupply control unit 418 switches ON the first power supply ON/OFFswitching device 412. Consequently, the communication control unit 450starts to receive a remote ON packet from the server apparatus 453.

If a packet of transition command to the quick start condition (P102)comes from the server apparatus 453 in the shut-down condition (P104),the image forming apparatus is brought to the quick start condition(P102). Upon receiving a power OFF instruction from the main switch 420in the quick start condition, the CPU 401 brings the image formingapparatus from the idle condition to the quick start condition. At thistime, the power supply control unit 418 turns ON the third power supplyON/OFF switching device 417, so that, in the main control unit 410, onlythe main storage memory 405 and the power supply control unit 418 arepowered on.

If a user turns ON the main switch 420 when in the quick start condition(P102), the image forming apparatus is brought to the idle condition(P100). Upon receiving a power supply ON instruction from the mainswitch 420 in the quick start condition, the image forming apparatus isbrought from the quick start condition to the idle condition. In thisidle condition, the first power supply ON/OFF switching device 412, thesecond power supply ON/OFF switching device 415, and the third powersupply ON/OFF switching device 417 all remain ON. Further, the operationportion control unit 406 and the device control unit 407 are alsopowered on so that the image forming apparatus is entirely activated.

When a predetermined time set in the image forming apparatus elapses inthe idle condition (P100), the image forming apparatus is brought to asleep condition (P101). In this condition, although the first powersupply ON/OFF switching device 412 and the third power supply ON/OFFswitching device 417 are kept ON, the entire system except the mainstorage memory 405 within the controller control unit 400 is kept OFF.

Hereinafter, a remote power control method of the image formingapparatus of the present exemplary embodiment and its usage method willbe described in detail below. According to the present exemplaryembodiment, the communication control unit 450 determines whether apacket acquired by the communication control unit 450 is a packet foractivating the image forming apparatus main body in the idle conditionwhich allows formation of an image, or a packet for activating the imageforming apparatus main body in the quick start condition which restrictsany operation except supplying power to the main memory.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart describing a control method of the image formingapparatus of the present exemplary embodiment. This example is startprocessing when the image forming apparatus receives from the server acommand packet to stand by in the quick start condition. In themeantime, each step is processed by the power supply control unit 418and the CPU 401 cooperating with each other. The CPU 401 loads a controlprogram from the ROM 403 to the main storage memory 405 and executes thecontrol program to achieve the processing of each step.

According to a packet acquired from the server apparatus 453, startcontrol for bringing the image forming apparatus from the idle conditionto the quick start condition is performed as described below. Assumethat the apparatus is in a condition (P104) in which only the powersupply control unit 418 and the communication control unit 450 of theimage forming apparatus are supplied with electric power. In step S101,the communication control unit 450 within the controller control unit400 determines whether the start packet has been received from theserver apparatus 453.

If the communication control unit 450 determines that the start packethas been received (YES in step S101), the communication control unit 450determines whether the packet is a command packet to stand by in thequick start condition. If so, a quick start flag is raised in the flagresistor 414 and the processing proceeds to step S104. On the otherhand, in step S102, if the communication control unit 450 determinesthat the received packet is not a command packet to stand by in thequick start condition, in step S103, the CPU 401 makes an indication fornotifying a user that the operation unit 800 is being initialized.

If the power supply control unit 418 determines that a quick start flaghas been raised in step S102, the processing proceeds to step S104.Then, the power supply control unit 418 turns ON the second power supplyON/OFF switching device 415 and the third power supply ON/OFF switchingdevice 417. In step S104, the CPU 401 executes start processing of thecontroller control unit 400 except the device control unit 407 and theoperation portion control unit 406.

In step S105, the CPU 401 determines whether the quick start flag hasbeen raised at the time of the start processing of step S104. When theCPU 401 determines that the quick start flag has been raised, after theprocessing of step S104 is completed in step S104, in step S107, thesystem stands by in the quick start condition.

In the quick start condition, the power supply control unit 418 turnsOFF the second power supply ON/OFF switching device 415 and the firstpower supply ON/OFF switching device 412. However, the third powersupply ON/OFF switching device 417 is turned ON, so that the mainstorage memory 405 holds data. Then, when a user turns ON the mainswitch 420, the image forming apparatus is started quickly.

On the other hand, if in step S105, the CPU 401 determines that no quickstart flag has been raised, after step S104, the system enters into aflow (S110) for the remaining start processing, which is not executed instep S104. Next, when the main switch 420 is turned ON, in step S108,the CPU 401 releases energy saving mode and, in step S109, the CPU 401displays an indication notifying a user that initialization of theoperation unit 800 is being executed.

In step S110, the CPU 401 executes the remaining start processing of thedevice control unit 407, which is not executed in the start processingof step S104. This processing includes any source which generatesvibration or impact, for example, a motor and a solenoid necessary forcarrying an original document and a sheet or necessary for forming animage.

In step S111, a negotiation between the controller control unit 400 andperipheral devices is executed. For example, the controller control unit400 acquires information of the peripheral devices and checks to seewhether communication is carried out properly.

In step S112, the above-described processing is finished, so that thestart processing of the image forming apparatus is completed bringingthe image forming apparatus into an idle condition.

Consequently, the startup step of the image forming apparatus after thepower is turned on by remote control, can be determined depending on thekind of a packet sent from the server apparatus. As a result, standbyelectric power of the image forming apparatus which is not consumedimmediately can be suppressed. Further, the startup step of the imageforming apparatus can be changed depending on a regular condition set bya user. As a consequence, the image forming apparatus can be started inthe regular setting made by the user.

In the exemplary embodiment as above described, when a packet for thequick start is received, the quick start processing is always executed.However, such start processing may not be desired depending on a user'senvironment where the image forming apparatus is shared among users.Therefore, even if the aforementioned packet is received, if a settingfor disenabling the packet is made in advance through the operation unit800, the image forming apparatus may be started without executing thequick start processing. Hereinafter, this exemplary embodiment will bedescribed in detail.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart describing a control method of the image formingapparatus according to a second exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. This is start processing example when the image formingapparatus receives an instruction packet to stand by in the quick startcondition, from the server. In the meantime, each step is processed bythe power supply control unit 418 and the CPU 401 cooperating with eachother. The CPU 401 achieves control by loading a control program to themain storage memory 405 and executing it. Start control will bedescribed below which brings the image forming apparatus into the idlecondition or the quick start condition by determining an enabled ordisenabled state of the setting for restricting the quick startprocessing, according to a packet acquired from the server apparatus453.

In the present exemplary embodiment, assume that only the power supplycontrol unit 418 and the communication control unit 450 of the imageforming apparatus are supplied with electric power. In step S201, thecommunication control unit 450 within the controller control unit 400 isin the standby condition waiting for a start packet sent from the serverapparatus 453.

When the communication control unit 450 recognizes that the start packethas been received, the communication control unit 450 determines whetherthe packet is a command packet to standby in the quick start condition.If so, in step S202, the communication control unit 450 raises the quickstart flag on a flag register 414 and the processing proceeds to stepS205.

On the other hand, in step S202, if the communication control unit 450determines that no quick start flag has been raised, in step S203, thecommunication control unit 450 determines whether a quick startinhibition flag for the setting of the image forming apparatus toinhibit the quick start has been raised.

For example, the quick start is carried out together with electricitysupply to the main storage memory 405 when the main switch 420 is turnedOFF. Accordingly, the quick start inhibition may be set when a userdesires to inhibit the electricity supply. If the CPU 401 determinesthat the quick start inhibition flag has been raised on the main storagememory 405, the processing proceeds to step S204. If the CPU 401determines that no quick start inhibition flag has been raised, theprocessing proceeds to step S205. In step S204, the CPU 401 makes anindication to notify a user that initialization of the operation unit800 is being executed.

In step S205, the power supply control unit 418 turns ON the secondpower supply ON/OFF switching device 415 and the third power supplyON/OFF switching device 417, and the CPU 401 executes the startprocessing of the controller control unit except the device control unit407 and the operation portion control unit 406.

At the time of the start processing in step S205, the CPU 401 determineswhether the quick start flag and the quick start inhibition flag havebeen raised in steps S206 and S207 respectively. If the quick start flagis ON and the quick start inhibition flag is OFF, in step S208, thesystem stands by for completion of the processing of step S205. Then,after the processing of step S205 is completed, in step S209, the CPU401 stands by in the quick start condition.

At the time of the quick start condition, the power supply control unit418 turns OFF the second power supply ON/OFF switching device 415 andthe first power supply ON/OFF switching device 412. However, when thethird power supply ON/OFF switching device 417 is turned ON, data of themain storage memory 405 is held, so that when a user turns ON the mainswitch 420, the image forming apparatus is rapidly started.

Next, in step S210, the CPU 401 determines whether releasing of thequick start condition has been instructed when the main switch 420 isturned ON. When the CPU 401 determines that releasing of the quick startcondition has been instructed (YES in step S210), in step S211, the CPU401 makes an indication to inform a user that initialization of theoperation unit 800 is being executed.

Next, when the CPU 401 determines that the quick start flag is OFF orthe quick start inhibition flag is ON in steps S206 and S207respectively, in step S212, the system enters into a flow of theremaining start processing, which is not executed in step S205 afterstep S205. More specifically, the system executes the remaining startprocessing of the device control unit 407 not executed in the startprocessing of step S205. This processing includes a source whichgenerates vibration or impact, for example, a motor and a solenoidnecessary for carrying an original document and a sheet or necessary forforming an image.

In step S213, a negotiation between the controller control unit 400 andperipheral devices is executed. For example, the controller control unit400 acquires information of the peripheral devices and checks to seewhether communication is executed properly.

When the above-described processing is finished, in step S214, the startprocessing of the image forming apparatus is completed, so that theimage forming apparatus is brought into the idle condition. As a result,in addition to an effect of the first exemplary embodiment, the imageforming apparatus may execute start processing convenient to a user.

The respective steps of the present invention may be achieved by aprocessing apparatus (CPU, processor) of a personal computer executingsoftware (program) acquired through a network or a variety of storagemediums.

Although, in the above exemplary embodiment, upon receiving the startpacket, the system is brought from a shutdown condition (P104) to thequick start condition (P103), the present invention is not restricted tothis example. For example, according to a modification of the presentinvention, upon receiving a specific packet, the system may be broughtfrom the shutdown condition (P104) to a sleep condition (P101).

The aforementioned specific packet is transmitted from the serverapparatus 453 to start the image forming apparatus. This specific packetis different from the packet for causing the image forming apparatus toexecute a specific processing (e.g., print processing, scan processing,data storage processing to an HDD). The specific packet transmitted fromthis server apparatus 453 is a broadcast packet or a multicast packet.

An operation of the image forming apparatus of this modification will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 8. Assume that the image formingapparatus of this modification is in the shutdown condition in whichonly the power supply control unit 418 and the communication controlunit 450 are supplied with electricity. The communication control unit450 in the controller control unit 400 is in the standby condition for aspecific packet sent from the server apparatus 453.

In step S301, the communication control unit 450 determines whether thespecific packet has been received. When the communication control unit450 determines that any specific packet has been received (YES in stepS301), in step S301, the communication control unit 450 raises a flagindicating that the specific packet has been received on the flagregister 414.

On the other hand, when the communication control unit 450 determinesthat other packet than the specific packet has been received (NO in stepS301), the communication control unit 450 proceeds with the processingwithout raising the aforementioned flag on the flag register 414.

Next, the power supply control unit 418 turns ON the second power supplyON/OFF switching device 415 and the third power supply ON/OFF switchingdevice 417. Consequently, the main control unit 410 of the CPU 401 issupplied with electricity. Then, in step S303, the CPU 401 executes thestart processing of the main control unit 410. As a result, the powercondition of the image forming apparatus turns into the idle condition(P100).

After that, in step S304, the power supply control unit 418 determineswhether the specific flag is raised on the flag register 414. When thepower supply control unit 418 determines that the specific flag israised (YES in step S304), in step S305, the CPU 401 executes the sleeptransition processing. More specifically, the power supply control unit418 turns OFF the second power supply ON/OFF switching device 415 andthe third power supply ON/OFF switching device 417. Consequently, asupply of electricity to the controller control unit 400 is interrupted.As a result, the power condition of the image forming apparatus turnsinto the sleep condition (P101).

On the other hand, when the power supply control unit 418 determinesthat no specific flag is raised (NO in step S304), the CPU 401terminates the flow of FIG. 8 without executing the sleep transitionprocessing.

The above-described modification indicates a shutdown condition in whichonly the power supply control unit 418 and the communication controlunit 450 are supplied with electricity. According to this modification,when a specific packet is received from the server apparatus, the powercondition of the image forming apparatus is brought into the sleepcondition, and when other packet than the specific packet is receivedfrom the server apparatus, the power condition of the image formingapparatus is brought into the idle condition. In a case of receiving thespecific packet from the server apparatus, the above modification is notrestricted to the sleep condition as long as the power condition of theimage forming apparatus is brought from the idle condition to the energysaving condition.

Other Embodiments

Aspects of the present invention can also be realized by a computer of asystem or apparatus (or devices such as a CPU or MPU) that reads out andexecutes a program recorded on a memory device to perform the functionsof the above-described embodiment (s), and by a method, the steps ofwhich are performed by a computer of a system or apparatus by, forexample, reading out and executing a program recorded on a memory deviceto perform the functions of the above-described embodiment (s). For thispurpose, the program is provided to the computer for example via anetwork or from a recording medium of various types serving as thememory device (e.g., computer-readable medium).

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No.2011-123476 filed Jun. 1, 2011, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image forming apparatus capable ofcommunicating with a server apparatus, comprising: a receiving unitconfigured to receive a packet from the server apparatus; a determiningunit configured to determine whether the packet received by thereceiving unit is a first type packet or a second type packet; a powersupply control unit configured to, when the determining unit determinesthat the packet received by the receiving unit is the first type packet,bring the image forming apparatus into a first power condition in whichelectric power is supplied to the receiving unit and a volatile memory,and when the determining unit determines that the packet received by thereceiving unit is the second type packet, bring the image formingapparatus into a second power condition in which electric power is notsupplied to the receiving unit and electric power is supplied to thevolatile memory; and a start control unit configured to bring the imageforming apparatus into the first power condition from the second powercondition using data stored in the volatile memory.
 2. The image formingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second power condition is astate which restricts supply of electric power to components other thanthe volatile memory which stores data for use in starting the imageforming apparatus.
 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,wherein, the first power condition consumes more power than the secondpower condition and is capable of causing the image forming apparatus toexecute image forming processing.
 4. The image forming apparatusaccording to claim 1, further comprising: a first power supplyconfigured to supply electric power to the receiving unit; a secondpower supply configured to supply electric power to a control unit whichcontrols an image forming unit configured to execute image formingprocessing; and a third power supply configured to supply electric powerto the volatile memory, wherein, when the determining unit determinesthat the packet received by the receiving unit is the second typepacket, the power supply control unit performs control such thatelectric power is supplied from the third power supply to the volatilememory, and, when the determining unit determines that the packetreceived by the receiving unit is the first type packet, the powersupply control unit performs control such that electric power issupplied from the second power supply to the control unit.
 5. The imageforming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a firstpower supply configured to supply electric power to the power supplycontrol unit; and a switching unit disposed between the first powersupply and the receiving unit and configured to switch between supplyand shutdown of electric power from the first power supply to thereceiving unit.
 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5,further comprising, a flag storage unit configured to, when thedetermining unit determines that the packet received by the receivingunit is the second type packet, store a flag indicating that the secondtype packet has been received, wherein when the flag is stored in theflag storage unit, the power supply control unit brings the imageforming apparatus into the second power condition.
 7. The image formingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second type packet is apacket for starting the image forming apparatus.
 8. The image formingapparatus according to claim 7, wherein the second type packet is abroadcast packet or a multicast packet.
 9. A control method of an imageforming apparatus capable of communicating with a server apparatus, theimage forming apparatus including a receiving unit, the methodcomprising: receiving a packet from the server apparatus; determiningwhether a received packet is a first type packet or a second typepacket; when it is determined that the received packet is the first typepacket, bringing the image forming apparatus into a first powercondition in which electric power is supplied to the receiving unit anda volatile memory, and when it is determined that the packet received isthe second type packet, bringing the image forming apparatus into asecond power condition in which electric power is not supplied to thereceiving unit and electric power is supplied to the volatile memoryand, starting the image forming apparatus into the first power conditionfrom the second power condition using the data stored in the volatilememory.
 10. A non-transitory storage medium which stores a program forcausing a computer to execute the control method of an image formingapparatus capable of communicating with a server apparatus, the imageforming apparatus including a receiving unit, the method comprising:receiving a packet from the server apparatus; determining whether areceived packet is a first type packet or a second type packet; when itis determined that the received packet is the first type packet,bringing the image forming apparatus into a first power condition inwhich electric power is supplied to the receiving unit and a volatilememory, and when it is determined that the packet received is the secondtype packet, bring the image forming apparatus into a second powercondition in which electric power is not supplied to the receiving unitand electric power is supplied to the volatile memory and, starting theimage forming apparatus into the first power condition from the secondpower condition using the data stored in the volatile memory.